With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he turned and headed up the mountain.
The elder held not the slightest goodwill for the young man before him. Although the Immortal Hunting Sect was in the wrong, such blatant mockery of its disciples was too much. If it had been the Second Sect Master, known for his extreme protectiveness, he might have disciplined the young man after dealing with his two disciples.
"Wait a moment."
Nie Kong called out loudly, "I have come to visit your Grand Sect Master. I request the Fourth Sect Master to pass on my regards. This is my formal calling card!"
As the words fell, a piece of green jade floated towards the cyan-robed elder.
After his encounters with Lian Peng and Lian Jiu, Nie Kong realized that the Immortal Hunting Sect was not the Mu Family of Luocheng. There was no need to maintain such a carefully sincere posture. After all, his intention was precisely to cause humiliation; the Grand Sect Master would not view him any differently based on his attitude. If the Grand Sect Master treated him courteously, he would grant him some face; if not, he would strip him of all face!
"Oh?"
The cyan-robed elder suddenly turned, catching the green jade between his fingertips. A thread of spiritual consciousness instantly pierced from his brow and plunged into the jade. A moment later, his pupils contracted, and he blurted out, "You are Nie Kong? The Nie Kong who made the Spirit God Palace Masters retreat fruitlessly in the Spirit Restraint Swamp?"
Nie Kong smiled faintly, "Genuine, no doubt!"
The cyan-robed elder drew a quiet breath, skillfully concealing the shock in his eyes. "Nie Kong, what brings you to my Immortal Hunting Sect?"
"I heard your Grand Sect Master is an Eighth-Grade Medicine King, possessing exquisite skill and outstanding ability. I have come specifically to spar with him," Nie Kong stated slowly.
"Spar?"
Upon hearing that word, a fleeting smile crossed the elder's face. "Nie Kong, you possess a powerful Spirit Blossom for protection and rely on your Spirit Mansion, managing to cause the Spirit God Palace significant embarrassment—that is rare.
However, wanting to spar with our Grand Sect Master in the Dao of Alchemy is rather childish."
His words were courteous, yet the meaning was glaringly clear: Nie Kong, your strength is indeed considerable, but your alchemy level likely lags far behind your combat prowess. Seeking a match with the Grand Sect Master is overreaching!
"How can one know without trying?" Nie Kong replied calmly.
"Nie Kong, have you ever tested at the Spirit God Palace's medicine platform to obtain a Spirit Alchemist certificate?" the cyan-robed elder asked with a slight smile.
"I have. Two or three years ago, I obtained a Fourth-Grade Spirit Alchemist certificate in Luoyan City of the Shatu Empire," Nie Kong responded with a smile.
The cyan-robed elder frowned slightly. "And what grade do you consider your current ability to be?"
"Eighth-Grade!" Nie Kong stated firmly.
"Eighth-Grade?"
The elder's voice turned slightly cold, and he scoffed, "To raise your alchemy ability from Fourth-Grade to Eighth-Grade in just two or three years—do you think that is plausible?"
Nie Kong roared with laughter. "When I obtained the Fourth-Grade Spirit Alchemist certificate back then, I was merely a Spirit Transformation Master. Now, I am a Sixth-Grade Spirit Master of the Spirit Cave Realm. Do you truly believe that is impossible?"
"..."
The cyan-robed elder was struck speechless. He wanted to dismiss it as false, but the intensity of the aura fluctuating from Nie Kong's body clearly indicated a high grade. Moreover, even if he relied on the power of the Spirit Blossom to humble the Spirit God Palace, his own innate strength could not be insignificant. It was rumored that outside Jiyang City in the Dacheng Empire, he had withstood a siege by two Serpent Spirit Clan Heaven Spirit experts without even using his Spirit Blossom.
"Please convey the message quickly, Fourth Sect Master," Nie Kong had no desire to waste any more breath on him.
"Nie Kong, perhaps that's unnecessary. Our Grand Sect Master is very busy—he must cultivate, refine medicine, and manage the affairs of the sect. He has no time for sparring..." the cyan-robed elder said dismissively.
"The Grand Sect Master may be busy, but I am even busier! Fourth Sect Master, if you are unwilling to inform him, then do not blame me for entering myself!" Nie Kong's tone turned icy.
"Nie Kong, are you threatening me?" The cyan-robed elder's face darkened.
Nie Kong narrowed his eyes, a faint, chilling intent flickering within them. "If you wish to call it a threat, so be it."
The cyan-robed elder became deeply enraged. "You have a great deal of audacity!"
"My audacity is greater than you can imagine!"
Nie Kong let out a cold laugh. Since the pretense was dropped, there was nothing left to hold back. He took a step forward, and the sound of the "Heart Drum Battle Tone" suddenly resonated.
Dong!
A fierce drum sound vibrated between heaven and earth, and a violent, invisible surge of energy instantly rippled outward, immediately enveloping the entire Immortal Hunting Mountain Range.
The cyan-robed elder felt his heart lurch, as if struck fiercely by a giant hammer. An indescribable sense of suffocation spread uncontrollably through his chest. His expression changed drastically, and he involuntarily staggered back a step, the stone step beneath his foot cracking under the pressure.
Dong!
Nie Kong took another step: another, more intense drumbeat resonated. The cyan-robed elder retreated again, his gaze towards Nie Kong revealing unconcealed shock.
Dong! Come...
As Nie Kong’s steps pulsed, the drumbeats continued to sound. In just a few seconds, the "Heart Drum Battle Tone" had sounded ten times, and the Fourth Sect Master of the Immortal Hunting Sect had retreated eighteen steps consecutively. His eyes were wide open, his face flushed crimson, and sweat beaded heavily on his forehead.
Nie Kong paused his steps, a trace of mockery appearing on his face. "Fourth Sect Master, do you now feel that I possess the capacity to spar with your esteemed Grand Sect Master?"
"..."
The cyan-robed elder felt his internal spiritual energy scatter, his chest cavity on the verge of explosion, and his heart rate reaching unprecedented levels. He couldn't utter a single word, merely staring at Nie Kong with eyes full of terror. Though this person was only at the Spirit Cave Realm cultivation, his true strength was at least High-Grade Heaven Spirit!
"Insolence! How dare you cause trouble in my Immortal Hunting Sect!"
A fierce roar suddenly burst from the top of the steps, followed by the swift arrival of a tall figure, flashing like lightning to stand beside the cyan-robed elder. It was an old man with the hair of a crane and the face of a child, clad in black, glaring ferociously at Nie Kong, a violent aura swirling around his features. With a whoosh, another figure appeared—also a man, whose appearance was exceptionally well-maintained, looking no older than forty, clad in flowing white robes with an elegant bearing.
Like the cyan-robed elder, they were both Heaven Spirit realm experts.
Seeing the two men glaring furiously, Nie Kong smiled nonchalantly. "You two must be the other Sect Masters of the Immortal Hunting Sect. May I ask your names?"
"Third Sect Master, Lei He," the middle-aged man sneered.
"This old man is the Second Sect Master, Kui Yin."
The black-clad elder, like a provoked lion, spoke gravely, "Who are you? How dare you lay hands on my junior brother!" At this moment, the cyan-robed elder finally managed a long breath, his complexion slightly improving. He glanced deeply at Nie Kong before handing the green jade piece to Kui Yin.
"Nie Kong?"
Kui Yin's spiritual sense swept over the jade. After a slight pause, he burst into wrathful laughter. "I wondered who it was. It’s the Nie Kong who seized the Spirit Mansion from the Spirit God Palace! You come here acting like a tyrant, do you truly think my Immortal Hunting Sect has no capable men? Don't assume that having Yin Xu as your backer means my Immortal Hunting Sect cannot deal with you!"